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Updated: Oct 6, 2025
Engineered Vascularized Muscle Flap
Published on: January 11, 2016
[Repair of complex wounds of limbs with free lobed perforator flaps]
Hai Li1, Shun'e Xiao1, Chengliang Deng1
1Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi Guizhou, 563003, P. R. China.
Objective:
To explore the effectiveness of free lobed perforator flaps in repairing of complex wounds of limbs.
Methods:
Between January 2018 and January 2021, 10 patients with complex wounds of limbs were admitted. There were 7 males and 3 females, aged from 32 to 64 years, with an average age of 45 years. There were 4 cases of traffic accident injuries, 3 cases of machine strangulation injuries, 1 case of machine crush injury, and 2 cases of heavy object crush injuries. There were 5 cases of upper limb wounds and 5 cases of lower limb wounds. The size of wounds ranged from 11 cm×10 cm to 25 cm×18 cm. The wounds were repaired with tri-lobed flaps of the descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery in 7 cases, four-lobed flaps in 2 cases, and with tri-lobed flaps of the descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery combined with oblique branch in 1 case. The size of flaps ranged from 12.0 cm×10.5 cm to 28.0 cm×12.0 cm. The donor sites were sutured directly in 9 cases and repaired with superficial iliac circumflex artery perforator flap in 1 case.
Results:
Sinus formed at the edge of the flap in 1 patient, which healed after dressing change and drainage; other flaps survived well, and the wounds healed by first intention. The skin flap at donor site survived, and the incisions healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 6-24 months (mean, 11 months). All flaps had good appearance and function, and linear scars were left at the donor site without obvious complications.
Conclusion:
Free lobed perforator flap is an alternative method to repair complex wounds of limbs with high safety, good effectiveness, and less complications.
